Democrats signal wariness on gun laws

Tom Curry National affairs writer • Profile • E-mail

WASHINGTON - Democratic congressional leaders signaled Tuesday that they will not move swiftly to try to enact gun control legislation in the wake of Monday’s killings of 33 people at Virginia Tech.

In a briefing for reporters Tuesday, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland did not commit himself to action on any specific legislation.

“The country and the Congress will have additional discussions, as is always the case after an incident, particularly one of this scope and tragic consequences,” said Hoyer. He added, “I don’t want to get into a debate with reference to what we need to do” in terms of legislation merely 24 hours after the shootings.

But in what may be an early test of House sentiment on gun regulation, Hoyer said the Democratic leadership would bring up for debate on Thursday a bill that would give the District of Columbia’s non-voting delegate the same voting rights that representatives have.

Attempt to overturn D.C. gun ban
A House vote on that bill was delayed last month by a GOP maneuver that would have overturned the District’s nearly total ban on gun possession.

When a reporter asked Hoyer whether Monday’s shooting would make it harder for the Republicans to again try to use the gun ban to derail the representation bill, he said, “I would hope.”

But it wasn’t clear whether there will be a vote on overturning the D.C. gun ban or whether Democratic leaders will use a parliamentary tactic to avoid a vote.

Many Democrats shied away from discussing gun policy proposals Tuesday, saying it would be unseemly so soon after the massacre.

Asked whether Congress should reenact a 1994 ban on certain types of semi-automatic weapons, freshman Sen. Jon Tester, D–Mont., said, “Really, to talk about anything to do with weapons at this point is way, way, way too insensitive and way, way, way too premature.”

Elected last November, Tester is a strong supporter of gun owners’ rights.

MORE FROM POLITICS

Politics Section Front

McCain, Obama campaigns grapple for 'change' NYT: Party in power, running as if it weren't Red Tape: Was Palin's Soc. Sec. No. put on the web? NYT: Foreign policy factions divide GOP U.S. spied on Iraqi leaders, book says Newsweek: What women want from Palin NYT: Obama to dispatch female surrogates McCain: End ‘constant partisan rancor’ GOP delegates ponder that unsettling 'what if?' Graham blasts Obama as defeatist Politics Section Front   Add Politics headlines to your news reader: